Baseball display device

ABSTRACT

A display device for a baseball having a generally cylindrical wood support, a base having a depression sized to receive at least part of the support and transparent cover adapted to be engaged at one end by the base. Both the support and cover can be retained into generally cylindrical cavities in said base to improve display stability and integrity. Multiple baseball could be displayed within a single base and cover.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/705,770, filed Aug. 5, 2005.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a display device and more particularly to a sporting goods display device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Known baseball display devices include protective clear covers and stands adapted to hold a baseball. Some limitations of prior art display devices include lack of easy access to the displayed ball and obstruction from view of portions of the displayed ball.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed a sporting goods display device having a support element and base which are configured in thematic association with the sporting good to be displayed. In one embodiment, the display device includes a wood support element approximating the look and feel of a distal portion of a standard baseball bat. The support element preferably engages a retaining structure on the base and a visually clear cover also engages another retaining structure on the base. Continuing with this example, the base is shaped to resemble a standard baseball home plate.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective image of a display device embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is illustrates a top view of the display device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the display device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a detailed portion of the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates a side elevational view of the display device of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross sectional view of a base portion of the display device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows display device 10 having a base 11, support element 12 and cover 13. In this embodiment, device 10 displays a baseball 8. Base 11 is an irregular pentagon, such shape providing additional stability and resistance to tipping as compared to other shapes. In the illustrated embodiment, base 11 is shaped to resemble a typical baseball homeplate. In this manner, base 11 is thematically related to the displayed sporting good 8.

Referring to FIGS. 2-6, base 11 includes top surface 20, lower surface 21, support retaining structure 22 and cover retaining structure 23. Support retaining structure 22 is a cavity having a base and walls or portions thereof which engage support element 12. In this embodiment, support retaining structure 22 is a generally cylindrical depression having a generally vertical perimeter wall 24 extending around a lower base surface 25. Dimensions of walls 24 may be sized relative to support element 12 to provide a friction fit therebetween. In other embodiments, an adhesive or free fit may be used between base 11 and support element 12.

FIGS. 3-5 show cover retaining structure 23 includes a generally circular channel 26 adapted to receive a portion of display cover 13. Channel 26 is defined by a pair of generally vertical concentric walls with a space therebetween approximating the wall thickness of cover 13. To improve stability and resistance to tipping, channel 26 depth is approximately equal to the overall thickness of base 11.

Support element 12 is generally cylindrical and includes an end adapted to engage retaining structure 22 of base 11. The other end of support element 12 includes a ball supporting structure 27 adapted to hold baseball 8 above base 11. Ball supporting structure 27 is defined in this embodiment as a generally semispherical depression in the end of support element 12. The radius of the depression is substantially smaller than the radius of baseball 8 and only a generally circular edge is in contact with baseball 8.

Cover 13 includes a generally cylindrical portion 31 and a generally semispherical portion 32. Cylindrical portion 31 has a vertical height which is substantially greater than the baseball 8 diameter. Cover 13 is preferably sized and configured in relation to the cover retaining structure 23 of base 11. In this embodiment, an end part of cylindrical portion 31 is received into channel 26 of base 11. A clearance between the cover and ball 8 and support 12 is preferably between 0.25 to 2 inches and more preferably about 0.5 inch. Cover 13 can also be configured in thematic relation to the displayed sporting good. In this example, an outline of cover 13 at least partially mimics the outline of a bat end, i.e, cover 13 has a generally cylindrical profile terminating at a generally rounded end.

Together base 11, support element 12 and cover 13 can be configured to mimic or suggest features associated with the sporting good to be displayed.

Base 11 is preferably sized with a diameter of between 2 to 4 inches, and more preferably about 2.5 inches. Base 11 height is preferably between 2 to 6 inches, and more preferably about 4 inches. In other embodiments, base 11 may be sized to receive multiple support elements 12 so as to provide for the display of multiple baseball within a single cover.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps. 

1. A display comprising: a baseball; a base having a generally cylindrical depression therein; and a generally cylindrical wood support having an average diameter of between 1.5 inches to 3.5 inches and engaging said base at one end and having a cavity at another end for holding said baseball above said base.
 2. The display of claim 1 wherein further comprising a visually clear cover supported at one end upon the base and extending to cover both the support and the baseball.
 3. The display of claim 1 wherein said depression is generally cylindrical and sized to receive a portion of said one end of the support.
 4. The display of claim 3 wherein the base includes a ring cavity sized to receive a portion of said one end of the cover.
 5. The display of claim 1 wherein said base is shaped as an irregular pentagon.
 6. The display of claim 2 wherein said cover includes a generally cylindrical portion and a generally semispherical portion.
 7. The display of claim 1 wherein said cavity is generally semispherical.
 8. The display of claim 1 wherein said cavity is defined by a generally circular ball-engaging region adapted to contact a generally circular portion of the baseball.
 9. The display of claim 8 wherein said generally circular portion has a diameter which is smaller than a diameter of said baseball.
 10. The display of claim 1 wherein said support has a diameter which is smaller than a diameter of said baseball.
 11. The display of claim 1 wherein said support has a height of between 2 inches to 12 inches and a diameter of between 2 inches to 3.5 inches.
 12. The display of claim 11 wherein said cavity in said support has a diameter of between 1 inch to 2 inches and a depth of between 0.5 inch to 1.5 inches.
 13. The display of claim 11 wherein said base has a height of between 0.125 inch to 3 inches.
 14. The display of claim 1 wherein said support is a cut-off end portion of a wood baseball bat.
 15. The display of claim 5 wherein said irregular pentagon resembles a baseball home plate.
 16. The display of claim 1 wherein said support is essentially entirely northern white ash.
 17. A ball display comprising: a base having a support-receiving structure; and a generally cylindrical wood support having a diameter of between 2.5 inches to 3.5 inches, having a first end sized to be at least partially received into said support-receiving structure and having a second end adapted to hold a baseball away from the base.
 18. The ball display of claim 17 wherein the support-receiving structure is a generally cylindrical depression.
 19. The ball display of claim 18 wherein the support is generally cylindrical.
 20. The ball display of claim 17 further comprising a clear cover supported by said base and covering said support and said baseball.
 21. The display of claim 17 wherein said second end includes a cavity.
 22. The display of claim 21 wherein said cavity is defined by a generally circular ball-engaging region adapted to contact a generally circular portion of the baseball.
 23. The display of claim 22 wherein said generally circular portion has a diameter which is smaller than a diameter of said baseball.
 24. The display of claim 17 wherein said support has a height of between 2 inches to 12 inches and a diameter of 2.5.
 25. The display of claim 24 wherein said cavity in said support has a diameter of between 1 inch to 2 inches and a depth of between 0.5 inch to 1.5 inches.
 26. The display of claim 24 wherein said base has a height of between 0.125 inch to 3 inches.
 27. The display of claim 17 wherein said support is a cut-off end portion of a wood baseball bat.
 28. The display of claim 16 wherein said support is essentially entirely northern white ash.
 29. The display of claim 25 wherein a clearance between said support and a generally transparent cover adapted to be engaged at one end by said base is approximately 0.5 inch.
 30. The display of claim 16 wherein said base is sized to support a plurality of said supports.
 31. The display of claim 29 wherein said plurality of support are generally perpendicular to said base and said plurality of supports and a plurality of baseballs are enclosed within a transparent cover connected to said base, but otherwise not contacting said plurality of baseballs. 